Tim Matheson Was Worried About Being Typecast When He Was Scouted for Virgin River
The actor noted in his new memoir ‘Damn Glad to Meet You’ that the Netflix hit “had some similarities” to his previous role in ‘Hart of Dixie’
Tim Matheson initially wasn’t sure if Virgin River was the right fit.
The actor, 76, opened up about his hesitancy to star in the hit Netflix drama series based on the novels by Robyn Carr in his new memoir Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches, which came out Nov. 12.
In the book, he noted the similarities between the role he was being scouted for – local physician Vernon “Doc” Mullins – and his previous turn as local medical practitioner Dr. Brick Breeland in Hart of Dixie.
He also likened the role to the last regular role his “original Window on Main Street hero” Robert Young played in Marcus Welby, M.D., and considered it to be a sort of bad omen.
“There are some timeless storylines we can always go back to. And yes, Virgin River had some similarities to Hart of Dixie,” Matheson wrote. “Even my agent had figured out the new Tim’s-a-young-cowboy phase of my career had become the Tim’s-a-curmudgeonly-doctor phase.”
But there were things that drew him to the romantic drama, including that he “genuinely enjoyed the script.”
“I figured there was no way they would want me for this after 80 episodes of me playing a similar character on the WB,” the actor wrote, of auditioning for the part. “While typecasting often works, I’d too often heard, ‘Oh, we’ve seen him play that before; we want something … fresh.”
“Netflix, through their technology, had known audiences wanted to see Tim as a curmudgeonly doctor,” he wrote. “Give the people what they want. I said yes and packed for the north.”
Since premiering in 2019, Virgin River is going on its sixth season – set to air on December 19 – and has already been renewed for a seventh season.
The show follows nurse practitioner Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) as she moves from Los Angeles to a remote town in California to start a new life. There she meets Matheson’s standoffish Vernon “Doc” Mullins and his wife Hope McCrea (Annette O’Toole).
Matheson praised his costars in the memoir, writing that Breckenridge “reminds me of my friend John Spencer and the hours we once spent together on The West Wing,” and Martin Henderson, who plays Mel’s love interest Jack Sheridan is “more than just an actor on a show and a totally committed and devoted leader on set.”
He also recalled reuniting with O’Toole, whom he had previously worked with on Almost Summer, What Really Happened to the Class of ‘95 and The Best Legs in Eighth Grade.
“Had nearly 40 years really passed since then? We’d been in our thirties when last passing scripted barbs and kisses,” he wrote. “We boarded the plane together and spent the flight laughing about the old times and what wouldn’t come next.”
Following the success of Virgin River, Matheson found new life in his career. “Not since VP Hoynes or Otter had random people so connected me to character,” he wrote in reference to his past roles. “I’d been Doctor ‘Brick’ Breeland in Hart of Dixie for four years, but within two years, people were shouting out ‘Doc Mullins!’ at the grocery store or while I was out for a jog.”
Matheson’s new book details his extensive Hollywood career and his experience with industry greats such as Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, Penny Marshall, Dick Van Dyke and more. He also includes “film school boot camp lessons” to provide more in-depth insight into the industry.
In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE to share a first look at the book, the actor teased the future of Virgin River.
“Technically, my career only spans six and half decades so far,” he said. “However, I think this book will be on the bestseller list for a while and Doc Mullins isn’t getting killed off any time soon, so we rounded up.”
Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Tr
